!UNKNOWN LABEL

Letter, dated 3 September 1844, from Benjamin Watkins Leigh (1781-1849) of Richmond, Virginia, to Jonathan Chapman of Boston, Massachusetts, informing Chapman that Leigh must regretfully decline Chapman's invitation to attend the state convention of the Massachusetts Whig party. Leigh also informs Chapman that he believes Henry Clay will carry Virginia in the 1844 presidential election

Letter, dated 3 September 1844, from Benjamin Watkins Leigh (1781-1849) of Richmond, Virginia, to Jonathan Chapman of Boston, Massachusetts, informing Chapman that Leigh must regretfully decline Chapman's invitation to attend the state convention of the Massachusetts Whig party. Leigh also informs Chapman that he believes Henry Clay will carry Virginia in the 1844 presidential election

Benjamin Watkins Leigh was born in Chesterfield County, Virginia, on 18 June 18 1781. He studied under private tutors and graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1802. Leigh studied law, was admitted to the bar and began his practice in Petersburg, Virginia. Leigh represented Dinwiddie County, Virginia, in the House of Delegates from 1811 to 1813. Leigh moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 1813, and prepared the revised code of 1810. He was a member of the State constitutional convention of 1829-1830, and returned to the House of Delegates in 1830-1831, representing Henrico County, Virginia. Leigh served as the official reporter of the State court of appeals 1829-1841. He was elected as a Whig to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy in the term ending March 3, 1835, caused by the resignation of William C. Rives (1793-1868). Leigh was reelected to the Senate in 1835, and resigned in 1836. He resumed his law practice in Richmond. Leigh died 2 February 2, 1849, and was buried in Shockoe Cemetery. Leigh married first Mary Watkins 24 December 1802. He married second Susan Colston (b. 1792), and they had at least 2 children. He married third Julia Wickham (1801-1883), and they had 10 children.